Hello,
I am new to the list, as the naivety my question might suggest. I am
searching the list archives but finding it very difficult to find any
discussions about the changes in quality of airstream construction and
workmanship over the last 50 years. I hope to import (to the UK) a
mid sized (max. 22ft) trailer and would be interested in list members
opinions on which model might reflect the best quality of workmanship.
Having disected Airstreams of the '50's and '60's and seen those of the
'70's, I'd say that the quality is in direct porportion to the age.
Airstreams of the fifties, although less uniform as they were more
hand-built, seem to me to be of much higher quality than the later years.
The interior wood framing, drawers, ec. are rabbeted and jointed as opposed
to some of the stapled-together stuff of the sixties. I assume this is due
to labor and material costs rising each year. With no offense to the owners
of later Airstreams, I simply can't get interested in any A/S with less than
13 panels due to the interior workmanship.
Brian Jenkins